CAPE TOWN, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Chevron ( CVX ) will

explore for oil and gas offshore Guinea-Bissau in two blocks in

the MSGBC basin, the company said on Monday.

The Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Bissau and Conakry (MSGBC)

basin is a geological region in West Africa that has become a

major focus for the oil and gas sector following major recent

discoveries.

"Chevron ( CVX ) is happy to begin a new chapter with

Guinea-Bissau, in alignment with our exploration strategy of

adding high-quality acreage to our global portfolio," Liz

Schwarze, Chevron's ( CVX ) vice president for exploration, said in a

statement.

Chevron's ( CVX ) local unit will be the operator of Blocks 5B

and 6B with a 90% working interest in both. Petroguin,

Guinea-Bissau's national oil company, holds the remainder.